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Yoga
Sutras 4.7-4.8:
Actions
and Karma
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Next Main)
 The previous sutras (4.4-4.6)
explained the emergence of mind and the foundation for its mastery. Here,
in the sutras of this section, are described the nature of actions and
karma.
Three kinds of actions: All
actions are one of three kinds: white
(good, useful), black (bad, not useful), and mixed (shades of gray).
The white, black, or mixed actions each bring consequences and deep
impressions in the basement of the mind field. They later arise and cause
further actions in alignment with those impressions.
Breaking the cycle: The
significance of understanding these three colorings and the cycling
process is in the next section (4.9-4.12),
which talks about the subtler aspects of the process, and how to break the
chain of cycling and recycling.
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4.7
The actions of yogis are neither white nor black, while they are threefold
for others.
(karma ashukla akrisnam yoginah trividham itaresam)
- karma = actions
stemming from the deep impressions of samskaras
- ashukla = not white
- akrisnam = nor
black
- yoginah = of a yogi
- trividham = threefold
- itaresam = of the
others
Three kinds of actions: All
actions are one of three kinds: white
(good, useful), black (bad, not useful), and mixed (shades of gray).
All of us have an instinctive sense of what is white, black, or mixed. The
discrimination between these three comes from the aspect of mind called buddhi.
The colored actions leave deep
impressions: This is the important part of these two sutras in this
section. The white, black, or mixed actions each bring consequences and
deep impressions in the basement of the mind field. They later arise and
cause further actions in alignment with those impressions.
For advanced yogis, actions are not
colored: If the advanced yogi has mastered all levels of the inner
process (1.2) then he or she is completely resting
in awareness of the true nature of the Self (1.3),
and is not identified with the other thought patterns (1.4).
Then these three colorings of white, black, or mixed do not apply. This
can be difficult to understand without glimpses of direct
experience.
For others: This ability to avoid
coloring is most likely not the condition of those who are reading this,
so the other case is what is important. It means that actions are white
(good, useful), black (bad, not useful), or mixed (shades of gray) for
the majority of aspirants. In the next sutra, it is explained that the
fruits from those actions are stored with corresponding colorings. Thus,
when they eventually play out, they will be colored as black, white, or
mixed.
Learning a new habit: While most
aspirants have the habit of black, white, or mixed actions leading to
consequences, a new habit can gradually be formed. Recall that one of the
two foundation principles is vairagya, or non-attachment (1.12-1.16).
As non-attachment gradually comes through the many practices, this habit
of coloring with consequences lessens. Gradually, there are fewer
consequences or colorings (kleshas, 1.5,
2.1-2.9), which come from actions.
Breaking the cycle: Descriptions
of breaking the cycle will be continued in the next section (4.9-4.12).
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4.8
Those threefold actions result in latent impressions (vasanas) that will later arise
to fruition only corresponding to those impressions.
(tatah tad vipaka anugunanam eva abhivyaktih vasananam)
- tatah = from that,
thence
- tad = that, their
- vipaka = fruition
- anugunanam = following,
corresponding to, accordingly
- eva = only
- abhivyaktih = manifest
- vasananam = latent
potencies, potentials, subliminal imprints
Impressions match the actions:
Whether actions are white, black, or mixed, the resulting deep impressions
(vasana) will also be of a similar nature. They too will be white, black, or mixed.
- White: Actions that are white
(good, useful) result in deep impressions that are also white (good,
useful).
- Black: Actions that are black
(bad, not useful) result in deep impressions that are also black (bad,
not useful).
- Mixed: Actions that are mixed
(shades of gray) result in deep impressions that are also mixed
(shades of gray).
When those deep impressions once again
arise to the surface, driving further actions, speech, and thoughts, those
too will have similar leanings. They can be altered through sadhana
(spiritual practices) and deciding to follow different courses of actions.
The
next sutra is 4.9
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This site is devoted to
presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of
the Tradition of the Himalayan masters in simple, understandable and
beneficial ways, while not compromising quality or depth. The goal of
our sadhana or practices is the highest
Joy that comes from the Realization in direct experience of the
center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or Purusha, which is
one and the same with the Absolute Reality.
This Self-Realization comes through Yoga meditation of the Yoga
Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the
intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which
complement one another like fingers on a hand.
We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti
Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha,
and Tantra Yoga. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer
finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final
stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the
Absolute.
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